Gemotions

He’d always come here, ever since she left. Now, the spot where the silver birch had stood, his silent companion for so many years, was just…gone. He'd never told anyone how much the quiet of this place soothed him, helped him forget the empty space in the house.

His fingers traced the rough earth where the roots had been. The absence of the tree was a gaping hole, a fresh wound. The birdsong that had always accompanied his visits suddenly grated on him.

He kicked a small stone, watching it skip across the dirt. He felt a sudden, intense desire to call someone, anyone, just to hear a voice. The woods felt colder than usual.